Review – Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger

Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger at a glance

The Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger packs a very impressive power rating for a unit of its price. Its slick aluminium body looks great, and the build quality is excellent. Lightning fast charging times courtesy of Quick Charge 2.0 technology round off a superb offering from Aukey.

PROS

Super-fast charging (input and output)

Great value for money

24 month warranty

CONS

Some reported instances of compatability issues with Motorolla cell phones

Capacity & Charging speed

Charging speed is where the Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger blows its competition away. Boasting Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology, the Aukey will charge compatible phones and tablets MUCH faster than comparable portable chargers. In a nutshell, Quick Charge 2.0 maximises the amount of current that can be safely delivered to a battery whilst charging. For a list of compatible Quick Charge 2.0 phones and tablets click here. We’re also happy to report that charging speed of other, non-compatible devices is still excellent.

Quick charging is supported for both output and input. However it is worth pointing out that you will need a compatible Quick Charge 2.0 wall charger to take advantage and charge your power bank as quickly as possible. The good news is if you own a Quick Charge 2.0 enabled phone or tablet, then your existing wall charger will fit the bill. If not, something like this wall charger from Aukey would be a worthwhile investment.

And we haven’t even mentioned capacity yet! With 10400 mAh the Aukey represents extremely good value for money. This will be able to cope with most battery charging duties you throw its way!

Whilst it would have been nice to see the unit come with 2 USB outputs – it is a handy feature to be able to charge multiple devices at once. But there is something to be said for not overloading a product with features. Instead Aukey have focused on making sure the unit delivers in the areas that really count!

How many times will the Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger charge my device?

iPhone 5s

4.3 times

iPhone 6s

3.7 times

Samsung Galaxy S6

2.4 times

Samsung Galaxy S7

2.3 times

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

2 times

Sony Xperia Z

2.9 times

HTC One M7

2.9 times

iPad Mini

1.1 times

iPad Air 2

1 times

iPad Pro 9.7

1 times

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7

1.2 times

*Charging rates are a rounded approximation taking into account average battery condition, environmental factors and natural power degradation

Look and feel

Design is another area where the Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger impresses. The anodised aluminium body gives it a premium appearance that belies its actual cost. The metal body has a nice, solid feel when you pick it up. Short and slightly chunky, the unit is rounded and fits nicely in the hand, although the leading edges are quite abrupt.

At the business end you will find in a neat little row the power button, 4 LEDs to indicate charge level, plus a USB output, and micro USB input. A great looking portable charger!

Durability & Construction

The Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger comes with a 24 month warranty, so Aukey clearly believes in the products that they are putting out. It feels solid, and really well put together. The aluminium body should protect the internal electronics when you take the unit out and about.

However we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t report that there have been a small number of reports that have reached our ears of faulty units being shipped. The most common one being that they stopped working somewhere between 2 weeks to 3 months after purchase. We should stress that those are isolated incidents, and having the 24 month warranty goes a long way to negating that issue.

There have also been a few reports of customers having compatibility issues with Motorolla devices.

Portability

At 4 x 3 x 0.8 inches the Aukey 10400mAh Portable Charger will comfortably fit in your hand (just check the picture at the top of this review). At a stretch it would fit in a decent sized pocket, but would be more comfortable in a purse, backpack or shoulder bag. Compared to some units it has quite a squat, chunky profile – this has the advantage of minimizing its footprint. It tips the scales at 9.8 ounces which is par for the course at this power category / price point.

Final Thoughts

When so many competitors overload their power banks with unnecessary features such as flashlights, the Aukey focuses on what's important. With lightning-fast charging speed, outstanding value for money, and great looks, this unit ticks a lot of boxes. If you own a Quick Charge 2.0 enabled cell phone or tablet then this unit is ABSOLUTELY for you. If you want to charge more than one device at once, or you own a Motorolla device, then it may be worth looking elsewhere.